Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsIndicators in WomenIndicators in MenInfertility Without CauseNext Steps
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Indicators in Women
Indicators in Men
Infertility Without Cause
Next Steps
Signs you can’t get pregnant easily vary from person to person. In females, they may includeirregular periods, severe pain during menstruation or vaginal sex, or physical symptoms likehirsutism (excess hair growth on the face and body).
Many factors can affectfertility. Your age, weight, lifestyle habits, and underlying health conditions may all play a role.
This article will go into detail about symptoms associated withinfertilityin females and males. It will so provide information about solutions that may help.
PhotoAlto/Anne-Sophie Bost / Getty Images
A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. In this article, terms such as “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” refer to sex assigned at birth and/or terms used in the sources cited.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. In this article, terms such as “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” refer to sex assigned at birth and/or terms used in the sources cited.
Indicators That Suggest Infertility in Women
Infertility has a wide range of potential causes. It’s also possible to have more than one underlying cause at a time. Note, too, that pregnancy is often possible even if you’ve been diagnosed with infertility.
If you’re having trouble getting pregnant, certain symptoms may indicate infertility. However, symptoms associated with infertility are not always apparent or present.
Symptoms of conditions that could be associated with infertility in females include:
A History of Reproductive Health Issues
Symptoms associated with infertility often result from reproductive or other health conditions.Perimenopause, the period before menopause, may also cause infertility symptoms like irregular menstruation.
You may have received a diagnosis for a reproductive health issue in the past. Or, you may have a condition that has been silent (asymptomatic).
Common reproductive health issues that may make it harder to get pregnant include:
An Inability to Get Pregnant After One Year
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines “infertility” as the inability to get pregnant after one year or longer of having regular, unprotected sex.
Fertility in people assigned female at birth declines with age. So, infertility specialists urge people age 35 or older to get evaluated sooner if they’re having trouble conceiving.
If you’re in your mid-to-late-30s, it is OK to seek medical support after six months of trying to get pregnant. If you’re 40 or over, it makes sense to see an infertility specialist sooner rather than later. You can seek medical care and advice as soon as three months of trying to conceive.
A Word About TimingYou may have heard the adage, “Timing is everything.” However, if you’re trying to conceive, this may or may not hold true for you.Over 50% of male-female couples who don’t have infertility get pregnant within six months of trying.But it’s important to know when you’re ovulating, so you can have sex during that most fertile time.If you ovulate regularly, your best time to conceive will start around five days beforeovulation(release of an egg from the ovary) and include the day you ovulate plus the day after. For people with regular clockwork cycles, this “fertile window” starts around 12 to 14 days before your period.If you regularly have sex during this time but are still not pregnant, you may have an infertility issue, even if you don’t have any symptoms.
A Word About Timing
You may have heard the adage, “Timing is everything.” However, if you’re trying to conceive, this may or may not hold true for you.Over 50% of male-female couples who don’t have infertility get pregnant within six months of trying.But it’s important to know when you’re ovulating, so you can have sex during that most fertile time.If you ovulate regularly, your best time to conceive will start around five days beforeovulation(release of an egg from the ovary) and include the day you ovulate plus the day after. For people with regular clockwork cycles, this “fertile window” starts around 12 to 14 days before your period.If you regularly have sex during this time but are still not pregnant, you may have an infertility issue, even if you don’t have any symptoms.
You may have heard the adage, “Timing is everything.” However, if you’re trying to conceive, this may or may not hold true for you.
Over 50% of male-female couples who don’t have infertility get pregnant within six months of trying.But it’s important to know when you’re ovulating, so you can have sex during that most fertile time.
If you ovulate regularly, your best time to conceive will start around five days beforeovulation(release of an egg from the ovary) and include the day you ovulate plus the day after. For people with regular clockwork cycles, this “fertile window” starts around 12 to 14 days before your period.
If you regularly have sex during this time but are still not pregnant, you may have an infertility issue, even if you don’t have any symptoms.
Indicators That Suggest Infertility in Men
Male-factor infertilityis more common than often thought. In fact, around 50% of all male-female couples with infertility have a male-factor problem.
Male infertility is often asymptomatic. For that reason, unpartnered men or men in a same-sex relationship who wish to build their families through surrogacy are often surprised to find out they have issues like a low sperm count. Certain causes of male infertility, however, can cause symptoms.
Differently Sized Testicles
You may have avaricoceleif one testicle is smaller than the other. Varicoceles are swollen, enlarged veins within thescrotum(ball sac). This condition may be asymptomatic.
But in some instances, it can cause differences betweentesticlesizes due to heat from the pooling of blood around the testicle. Variocele can lower sperm count, movement, and shape, and/or the production of testosterone.
Missing Testicle
Undescended testicles (cryptorchidism) is a congenital condition (present from early in life). It is usually diagnosed andtreated surgicallyin infancy. Cryptorchidism is very rare in adults.
A smaller testicle or testes may result, with impaired function. This may lead to lower sperm quality or testosterone.
Small Testes and Other Symptoms
Klinefelter’s syndromeis a chromosomal disorder that can affect genetic males. People born with this condition have an extra X chromosome.People with Klinefelter’s syndrome often have no symptoms or very mild symptoms.
When symptoms occur, they may include:
Problems With Sexual Function
Hormonal imbalances (with low testosterone or elevated estradiol, a hormone produced in the ovaries) can sometimes be a contributing factor to alow sex driveor to your ability to achieve or maintain an erection. Many other underlying causes can also result inerectile dysfunction(ED).
Hormonal issues such as low testosterone may also cause a reduction in the ability to have ejaculation. Obstruction (depending on the location of the blockage) within the reproductive tract may reduce or lead to no sperm in ejaculate or cause a reduction of the amount of seminal fluid you ejaculate.
If you wish to impregnate someone through sexual intercourse, finding out the underlying cause of ED and other issues with sexual dysfunction will be an important first step.
About 30% of infertile male-female couples are diagnosed with unexplained infertility.It refers to infertility that doesn’t have a clear-cut, identifiable cause.
Often, individuals and couples who get this diagnosis report deep feelings of frustration and confusion.They know something is wrong but are unsure how to fix it.
Unexplained infertility does not mean there is no underlying cause, but rather that science has not yet determined all the possible causes of infertility.
For example, unexplained infertility was often the diagnosis for people with celiac disease wanting to get pregnant before this inflammatory condition was found to be a potential cause of infertility.
However, having unexplained infertility does not necessarily mean your condition is untreatable. Infertility specialists, such as reproductive endocrinologists (specialists in hormonal fertility issues), will be able to work with you to help achieve your goal of having a family.
The rate of spontaneous conception is also higher in people with unexplained infertility than it is in couples with other diagnoses.
Next Steps for Difficulty Getting Pregnant
Trying to get pregnant without success can be emotionally draining. If too much time has passed, or the process is weighing on you, seeing a specialist may make sense.
In some instances, it may be recommended that male-female couples see separate specialists, like a reproductive endocrinologist for the female partner and an andrologist for the male partner. Many infertility clinics have both types of specialists on staff.
You may also opt to see an alternative type of practitioner, such as an acupuncturist who specializes in hormonal issues and infertility.
Both partners will need to undergo an infertility workup that includes hormonal blood tests, physical exams, and, for the male partner, a sperm test.
Once the testing is done, your specialist will recommend treatments that may help. Lifestyle changes may be recommended, such as:
Your specialist may also recommend that females take oral medications likeClomid (clomiphene citrate). In some instances, medical procedures such asintrauterine insemination (IUI)orin vitro fertilization (IVF)will be recommended.
Summary
Infertility has a wide range of underlying causes. If you’re having difficulty getting pregnant, certain signs and symptoms may be a clue as to the underlying cause or causes.
Irregular periods are a common sign. However, many conditions that reduce fertility, such as fibroids or celiac disease, don’t impact ovulation. Male factors may also result in reduced fertility, including differently sized testicles and erectile dysfunction.
If you’ve been having trouble getting pregnant for some time, seeing an infertility specialist may help.
22 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UChicagoMedicine.Identifying signs of infertility: symptoms, causes and first steps.National Health Service (NHS).Polycystic ovary syndrome.World Health Organization.Endometriosis.Office on Women’s Health.Uterine fibroids.National Health Service (NIH).Overview pelvic inflammatory disease.National Health Service (NIH).Symptoms underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).MedlinePlus.Primary ovarian insufficiency.Beyond Celiac.Infertility and celiac disease.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Celiac disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Infertility FAQs.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Trying to get pregnant? Here’s when to have sex.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Calculating your monthly fertility window.Yale Medicine.Male infertility overview.Urology Care Foundation.What are varicoceles?Jeong SC, Lee S, Ku JY, Lee SD.Clinical characteristics and treatment of cryptorchidism in adults: a single center experience.World J Mens Health. 2014;32(2):110. doi:10.5534/wjmh.2014.32.2.110MedlinePlus.Klinefelter syndrome.Cedars Sinai.Erectile dysfunction.Urology Care Foundation.What is male infertility?Sadeghi MR.Unexplained infertility, the controversial matter in management of infertile couples.J Reprod Infertil. 2015;16(1):1-2.Simionescu G, Doroftei B, Maftei R, et al.The complex relationship between infertility and psychological distress (review).Exp Ther Med. 2021;21(4):306. doi:10.3892/etm.2021.9737Choi JM, Lebwohl B, Wang J, et al.Increased prevalence of celiac disease in patients with unexplained infertility in the united states: a prospective study.J Reprod Med. 2011;56(5-6):199-203. (this is a foundational paper on the topic, acceptable although more than 10 years old)Kim EJ, Nho JH.Lifestyle interventions for adults with infertility.J Lifestyle Med. 2022;12(2):69-71. doi:10.15280/jlm.2022.12.2.69
22 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.UChicagoMedicine.Identifying signs of infertility: symptoms, causes and first steps.National Health Service (NHS).Polycystic ovary syndrome.World Health Organization.Endometriosis.Office on Women’s Health.Uterine fibroids.National Health Service (NIH).Overview pelvic inflammatory disease.National Health Service (NIH).Symptoms underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).MedlinePlus.Primary ovarian insufficiency.Beyond Celiac.Infertility and celiac disease.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Celiac disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Infertility FAQs.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Trying to get pregnant? Here’s when to have sex.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Calculating your monthly fertility window.Yale Medicine.Male infertility overview.Urology Care Foundation.What are varicoceles?Jeong SC, Lee S, Ku JY, Lee SD.Clinical characteristics and treatment of cryptorchidism in adults: a single center experience.World J Mens Health. 2014;32(2):110. doi:10.5534/wjmh.2014.32.2.110MedlinePlus.Klinefelter syndrome.Cedars Sinai.Erectile dysfunction.Urology Care Foundation.What is male infertility?Sadeghi MR.Unexplained infertility, the controversial matter in management of infertile couples.J Reprod Infertil. 2015;16(1):1-2.Simionescu G, Doroftei B, Maftei R, et al.The complex relationship between infertility and psychological distress (review).Exp Ther Med. 2021;21(4):306. doi:10.3892/etm.2021.9737Choi JM, Lebwohl B, Wang J, et al.Increased prevalence of celiac disease in patients with unexplained infertility in the united states: a prospective study.J Reprod Med. 2011;56(5-6):199-203. (this is a foundational paper on the topic, acceptable although more than 10 years old)Kim EJ, Nho JH.Lifestyle interventions for adults with infertility.J Lifestyle Med. 2022;12(2):69-71. doi:10.15280/jlm.2022.12.2.69
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
UChicagoMedicine.Identifying signs of infertility: symptoms, causes and first steps.National Health Service (NHS).Polycystic ovary syndrome.World Health Organization.Endometriosis.Office on Women’s Health.Uterine fibroids.National Health Service (NIH).Overview pelvic inflammatory disease.National Health Service (NIH).Symptoms underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).MedlinePlus.Primary ovarian insufficiency.Beyond Celiac.Infertility and celiac disease.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Celiac disease.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Infertility FAQs.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Trying to get pregnant? Here’s when to have sex.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Calculating your monthly fertility window.Yale Medicine.Male infertility overview.Urology Care Foundation.What are varicoceles?Jeong SC, Lee S, Ku JY, Lee SD.Clinical characteristics and treatment of cryptorchidism in adults: a single center experience.World J Mens Health. 2014;32(2):110. doi:10.5534/wjmh.2014.32.2.110MedlinePlus.Klinefelter syndrome.Cedars Sinai.Erectile dysfunction.Urology Care Foundation.What is male infertility?Sadeghi MR.Unexplained infertility, the controversial matter in management of infertile couples.J Reprod Infertil. 2015;16(1):1-2.Simionescu G, Doroftei B, Maftei R, et al.The complex relationship between infertility and psychological distress (review).Exp Ther Med. 2021;21(4):306. doi:10.3892/etm.2021.9737Choi JM, Lebwohl B, Wang J, et al.Increased prevalence of celiac disease in patients with unexplained infertility in the united states: a prospective study.J Reprod Med. 2011;56(5-6):199-203. (this is a foundational paper on the topic, acceptable although more than 10 years old)Kim EJ, Nho JH.Lifestyle interventions for adults with infertility.J Lifestyle Med. 2022;12(2):69-71. doi:10.15280/jlm.2022.12.2.69
UChicagoMedicine.Identifying signs of infertility: symptoms, causes and first steps.
National Health Service (NHS).Polycystic ovary syndrome.
World Health Organization.Endometriosis.
Office on Women’s Health.Uterine fibroids.
National Health Service (NIH).Overview pelvic inflammatory disease.
National Health Service (NIH).Symptoms underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).
MedlinePlus.Primary ovarian insufficiency.
Beyond Celiac.Infertility and celiac disease.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Celiac disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Infertility FAQs.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Trying to get pregnant? Here’s when to have sex.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Calculating your monthly fertility window.
Yale Medicine.Male infertility overview.
Urology Care Foundation.What are varicoceles?
Jeong SC, Lee S, Ku JY, Lee SD.Clinical characteristics and treatment of cryptorchidism in adults: a single center experience.World J Mens Health. 2014;32(2):110. doi:10.5534/wjmh.2014.32.2.110
MedlinePlus.Klinefelter syndrome.
Cedars Sinai.Erectile dysfunction.
Urology Care Foundation.What is male infertility?
Sadeghi MR.Unexplained infertility, the controversial matter in management of infertile couples.J Reprod Infertil. 2015;16(1):1-2.
Simionescu G, Doroftei B, Maftei R, et al.The complex relationship between infertility and psychological distress (review).Exp Ther Med. 2021;21(4):306. doi:10.3892/etm.2021.9737
Choi JM, Lebwohl B, Wang J, et al.Increased prevalence of celiac disease in patients with unexplained infertility in the united states: a prospective study.J Reprod Med. 2011;56(5-6):199-203. (this is a foundational paper on the topic, acceptable although more than 10 years old)
Kim EJ, Nho JH.Lifestyle interventions for adults with infertility.J Lifestyle Med. 2022;12(2):69-71. doi:10.15280/jlm.2022.12.2.69
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
